Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman announced the appointment Wednesday of the department’s first black chief deputy and first female deputy chief.

Daryl L. Osby, 24-year veteran of the department, was appointed to the position of Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations, making him the second-in- command in the department, according to Kristina Hajjar, director of communications for the department.

“This is a turning point in the history of our department,” she said.

Osby most recently served as the deputy chief of the East Regional Operations Bureau, where he oversaw emergency service, personnel, training and budget issues for the regions 76 fire stations.

He has served as the top commander of fire operations for several major incidents over the past five years, including the 2003 California fire siege and the 2005 Topanga Fire. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Osby spent 18 days in Louisiana helping to manage recovery efforts and rebuild the city’s government.

Osby is a long-time resident of Pomona.

Meanwhile, Freeman also appointed Helen Jo to the position of deputy chief, becoming the first woman in the department’s 85-year history to be promoted to that rank.

Jo began working for the county 20 years ago, working in the Auditor- Controller Department. She joined the Fire Department in 1998 as a budget officer and was promoted in 2002 to chief of the Financial Management Division.

Born in Korea, Jo emigrated with her family at age 4 and grew up in Los Angeles. She lives in Sierra Madre.